Gentlemen,

Test. The very word strikes fear in most people’s hearts, especially if they are unprepared for the test that is coming. This month, I’d like to look at testing and how important it is to the proper preparation of young men (and young ladies). Even David the shepherd boy, while conversing with King Saul before he slew Goliath, knew the importance of testing. Consider the following from 1 Samuel 17:32-40.

And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

Let’s look at three things about testing from this passage.

First, testing proves what is in your own heart. David did not know whether he had the courage to face the lion and the bear until he actually did it. In my own life, I have to actually come up against something difficult to see how I will respond. My Asian friends say it this way, “The flavor of the tea is only revealed when placed in hot water.” Right now I am training for a 5K (3.11 mile) run; this is something I have never done before. I am not naturally a runner, nor do I (yet) enjoy it, but it has been a good testing ground to prove to myself that quitting is not an option. The fruit is now evident in greater cardiovascular fitness and, for the first time in my life, I can now run 5K in under 30 minutes. During my three months of training I learned that most of my battle was mental and not physical. For young men it is the same. The battles they face are mostly waged in the mind. Until they come upon physical hard things and accomplish them, they themselves do not grow in courage or confidence.

Second, testing proves to others what you can do in new situations. Notice from 1 Samuel that David gave his defense regarding his ability to defeat Saul by citing events from his past. David demonstrated his character, and physical abilities, by what he had already accomplished. Unlike with financial investments, past performance in people is a determiner of their future performance. I help my two young men understand this as they tackle various assignments and job assignments. All three of my children have had to develop a résumé of their experience and accomplishments. The purpose behind this is to simply show to others that they are ready to tackle new and even more challenging assignments. Fathers, it is our responsibility to continually stretch our young people to the full extent of their God-given talents, abilities, and spiritual gifting. It starts when they are young and continues even as they leave the home to start their own families.

Third, do not count on anything that has not been first tested, even people. Notice that David declined Saul’s offer of his armor and sword. He tried them on and then realized that he had not tested, or proved, them in battle. David was not going to use anything in a real challenge that he had not first tried, tested, and proved would work. Instead, he gathered five stones and his sling, which he had tested and proved, to do the work of giant slaying. In the Farr home we speak of something or someone as “Saul’s armor” when they have not yet been tested in battle. I do not use a piece of gear on a hike until I have first tested it at home. I did not allow my children to make public presentations until they had first made them at home. By allowing them to try, and possibly fail, at home there is learning that takes place. This learning is then very useful when the actual time of battle comes.

Fathers, do not be afraid of tests. They come to show us our own hearts, help us develop the courage and strength to lead, and prove the usefulness for a task of a piece of equipment or a person. After passing the test we rejoice; when we fail the test then there is learning and the opportunity to try again. Purpose to pass God’s tests the first time!

Remember Saul’s armor!

In Christ,

Major Roger D. Farr

ALERT Cadet Commanding Officer